Electrical connector socket with daughtercard ejector

ABSTRACT

An ejector is provided for ejecting a daughtercard from an elongated slot formed in an electrical connector socket housing. The ejector includes a body having a mechanism for ejecting an end of the daughtercard adjacent the ejector out of the elongated slot upon movement of the ejector relative to the socket housing. The body is also formed to include first and second crimp surfaces for engaging an end edge of the daughtercard to stabilize the daughtercard in the socket. A mechanism is also provided for biasing the ejector body in a direction toward the daughtercard to hold the first and second crimp surfaces against the daughtercard. The first and second crimp surfaces are preferably convergent to accommodate daughtercards having various lengths and thicknesses.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.08/060,308 filed May 11, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,133.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electrical connector socket havingan ejector mechanism for removing a daughtercard or module from thesocket. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improvedelectrical connector which provides a retention force when thedaughtercard is inserted into the socket and also permits thedaughtercard to be easily ejected from the socket when desired.

It is well known to provide electrical connector sockets, such as SingleIn-line Memory Module (SIMM) sockets, for interconnecting a firstprinted circuit board or mother board to a second printed circuit boardor daughtercard. Typically, the sockets are formed to include anelongated slot and a plurality of electrical terminals coupled to thehousing adjacent to the slot. When the daughtercard is inserted into theslot of the socket, conductive surfaces on the daughtercard engage theterminals to couple the daughtercard to the socket electrically. Theterminals are also coupled to conductive traces on the mother board sothat when the daughtercard is inserted into the socket, the daughtercardis electrically coupled to the mother board. For examples of SIMM socketconfigurations see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,264 to Tondreaultand U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/759,409, owned by the assigneeof the present invention, and incorporated herein by reference.

One problem associated with conventional electrical connectors is thatit is often difficult to extract a daughtercard that is held in a socketformed in an electrical connector. It is understood that a plurality ofsockets may be located adjacent each other with daughtercards in each ofthe sockets. In such tight quarters it is often difficult for atechnician to remove a selected daughtercard from the connector socketmanually by hand or using a tool. Unless precautions are taken, thedaughtercard can be damaged during extraction of the daughtercard fromthe socket. Therefore, it is desirable to provide an ejector mechanismcoupled to the socket to facilitate ejection of the daughter card fromthe socket.

It is known to provide ejectors coupled to the sockets to assist withthe removal of daughtercards from the socket. One such ejector isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,211 to Tondreault et al. The '221patent discloses an ejector for selectively ejecting one of first andsecond daughtercards located in adjacent elongated slots of a socket.The device disclosed in the '211 patent therefore provides means forselectively ejecting first and second daughtercards in a dual-rowsocket.

The present invention provides an improved design for an ejector for asingle row socket. It is known to provide ejectors for such single rowsockets. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,097 to Billman, et al.The '097 patent discloses a connector having extraction members whichcan be lifted upwardly relative to the socket to permit a circuit boardto be withdrawn from the socket. However, it is often difficult toaccess the extraction members. A great deal of room is required beyondthe edge of the extraction members to permit a technician to grip undera ledge of the extraction members and lift. In addition, a relativelylarge amount of force must be applied to the extraction members toremove the circuit board from the socket.

Another single row socket ejector apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 5,074,800 to Sasao et al. The Sasao '800 patent discloses first andsecond ejection levers pivotably coupled to opposite ends of a connectorhousing. In order to insert a printed circuit board into a slot ofhousing, both ejection levers are pivoted outwardly into to an ejectionposition. As the board is inserted downwardly into the slot of thehousing and engages the ejection levers, the ejection levers rotatetoward a locking position. A user must hold and guide the circuit boardcarefully until the board is above the slot in an aligned position sothat the contacts on the board mate with the contact terminals in thehousing. Having ejection levers on both ends of housing provides asubstantial amount of end play and make it difficult to align board inthe correct position relative to housing.

A problem associated with conventional sockets is that the daughtercardtends to dislodge from the socket during handling or during motor or fanvibration. Such dislodging can cause intermittent or failed signal pathsbetween the daughtercard and the mother board.

An object of the present invention is to facilitate ejection of adaughtercard from a socket, while improving the retention force on thedaughtercard to retain the daughtercard in the socket and whilefacilitating alignment of the daughtercard with the socket duringinsertion of the daughtercard into the socket.

According to one aspect of the present invention, an electricalconnector is provided for receiving a daughtercard having a plurality ofconductive surfaces formed thereon. The connector includes a sockethaving a first end and a second end. The socket is formed to include anelongated slot extending between the first and second ends for receivingthe daughtercard therein and a plurality of electrical terminals forengaging the plurality of conductive surfaces formed the daughtercardfor electrically coupling the daughtercard to the socket. The connectoralso includes a post coupled to the second end of the socket in a fixedposition relative to the socket to guide insertion of the daughtercardinto the socket so that the plurality of conductive surfaces formed thedaughtercard are aligned with the plurality of electrical terminals ofthe socket. The post is formed to include means for engaging oppositesides of the daughtercard adjacent the post to retain the daughtercardwithin the socket. The connector further includes an ejector coupled tothe first end of the socket. The ejector includes means for retainingthe daughtercard in the socket upon insertion of the daughtercard intothe socket and means for ejecting an end of the daughtercard adjacentthe ejector out of the elongated slot upon movement of the ejectorrelative to the socket while leaving an opposite end of the daughtercardadjacent the post in the elongated slot of the socket.

In the illustrated embodiment, the retaining means of the ejectorincludes first and second spring arms for engaging opposite sides of thedaughtercard upon insertion of the daughtercard into the socket. Thefirst and second spring arms of the ejector each include a head portionconfigured to enter an aperture formed in the daughtercard adjacent theejector from opposite sides of the daughtercard. The head portions ofthe ejector arms include a ramp shaped edge surface configured to engagethe daughtercard and apply a retention force normal to the daughtercard.The head portions of the ejector arms also include a bottom surface forapplying a retention force against the daughtercard downwardly into saidelongated slot of the socket. The head portions of the ejector armsfurther include side ramped surfaces to force the first and second armsof the ejector apart automatically during insertion of the daughtercardinto socket or during ejection of the daughtercard from the socket.

Also in the illustrated embodiment, the ejecting means includes meansfor engaging the daughtercard to force an end of the daughtercardadjacent the first end of the socket out of the elongated slot uponmovement of the ejector relative to the socket. The ejector is pivotablycoupled to the first end of the socket and movable from an uprightretention position in which the retaining means engages opposite sidesof the daughtercard to retain the daughtercard in the socket to anoutwardly pivoted ejection position so that the ejecting means forcessaid end of the daughtercard adjacent the ejector out of the elongatedslot. Advantageously, the spring arms of the ejector are formed toinclude means for permitting the daughtercard to be inserted into thesocket with the ejector in either its upright retention position or itsoutwardly pivoted ejection position.

The engaging means of the post includes a pair of spring arms projectingaway from the post for engaging opposite sides of the daughtercardadjacent the second end of the socket to retain the daughtercard withinthe socket. The arms of the post each include a head portion configuredto enter an aperture formed in the daughtercard for engaging oppositesides of the daughtercard to retain and stabilize the daughtercard inthe socket. The head portions of the post arms have a configurationidentical to the head portions of the ejector. Therefore, the headportions of the post arms include a ramp shaped edge surface configuredto engage the daughtercard and apply a force normal to the daughtercardand a bottom surface for applying a force against the daughtercarddownwardly into said elongated slot of the socket. The head portions ofthe post arms also include side ramped surfaces to force the post armsapart automatically during insertion of the daughtercard into the socketor during ejection of the daughtercard from the socket.

Insertion of the daughtercard into the socket of the present inventionis simple. The daughtercard is first aligned with the socket using thefixed post as a guide. This is an advantage over the prior art deviceillustrated in the '800 patent discussed above in which the card maybecome misaligned due to the end play caused by having ejection leversat both ends of the socket. As the daughtercard is inserted into thesocket of the present invention, the bottom surface of the daughtercardengages the bottom surface of the ejector and causes rotation of ejectorabout its pivot axis. The ramped surfaces on the heads of the ejectorcause the arms of the ejector to move apart automatically as theycontact a side edge of the daughtercard. There is no need to exert anexternal force on the ejector to cause the ejector to pivot to theretention position in which the ramped heads of the ejector enter theaperture from opposite sides of the daughtercard to stabilize and retainthe daughtercard in the socket. In fact, the daughtercard can beinserted with the ejector in its upright retention position. The headsof the arms formed coupled to the fixed post enter the aperture at theopposite end of the daughtercard. Flat bottom surfaces on heads of thearms of the ejector and the post prevent movement of daughtercardupwardly out of the socket.

When it is desired to remove the daughtercard from the socket, theejector is rotated about its pivot axis. This movement forces the end ofthe daughtercard adjacent the ejector to rotate out of the socket. Theramped surfaces of the heads of the ejector engage a side wall definingthe aperture in the daughtercard to force the arms of the ejectoroutwardly to disengage the heads of the ejector from the aperture. Afterthe ejector pushes the end of the daughtercard adjacent the ejector outof the socket, an operator can grab the raised corner of thedaughtercard and "peel" the daughtercard the rest of the way out thesocket by continuing to rotate daughtercard using the fixed post toprovide leverage.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an ejector isprovided for ejecting a daughtercard from an elongated slot formed in anelectrical connector socket housing. The ejector includes a body havingmeans for ejecting an end of the daughtercard adjacent the ejector outof the elongated slot upon movement of the ejector relative to thesocket housing. The body is also formed to include first and secondcrimp surfaces for engaging an end edge of the daughtercard to stabilizethe daughtercard in the socket.

In the illustrated embodiment, means is also provided for biasing theejector body in a direction toward the daughtercard to hold the firstand second crimp surfaces against the daughtercard. The biasing meansincludes first and second wedges formed on opposite side surfaces of theejector body, and first and second locking tabs formed on the sockethousing for engaging the first and second wedges, respectively, to applya biasing force to the ejector body in a direction toward thedaughtercard. The first and second crimp surfaces are illustrativelyconvergent to accommodate daughtercards having various lengths andthicknesses.

The first and second locking tabs also engage the opposite side surfacesof the ejector body to apply opposing, inwardly directed forces to theejector body, thereby centralizing and stabilizing the ejector bodywithin the socket housing. Also in the illustrated embodiment, theejector further includes first and second raised surfaces formed on theopposite side surfaces of the body of the ejector and configured so thatthe first and second locking tabs engage the first and second raisedsurfaces respectively.

The ejector also includes first and second lead in ramp surfaces formedon the ejector body above the first and second crimp surfaces,respectively. These first and second lead in ramp surfaces reduce thelikelihood of stubbing a bottom surface of the daughtercard against theejector body during insertion of the daughtercard into the sockethousing.

Additional objects, features, and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description of a preferred embodiment exemplifyingthe best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figuresin which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view with portions broken away illustrating asocket of the present invention including an elongated slot forreceiving the daughtercard therein, a plurality of contacts for engagingconductive surfaces on the daughtercard, an ejector apparatus pivotablycoupled to one end of the socket, and a fixed post coupled to a second,opposite end of the socket for retaining an end of the daughtercardopposite from the ejector in the socket;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the ejector apparatus of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an insert configured to be coupled tothe second end of the housing to provide the retention means and toprovide a stable fixed post for guiding insertion of the daughtercardinto the socket;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 1 illustratingthe configuration of the contacts inside the socket and furtherillustrating the configuration of the ejector apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatical view illustrating insertion of a daughtercardinto the socket of the present invention;

FIG. 5a is a side elevational view of the socket of the presentinvention with the daughtercard installed therein;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatical view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating theposition of the daughtercard in socket after the daughtercard iscompletely inserted into the socket;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along lines 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatical view similar to FIGS. 5 and 6 illustratingejection of the daughtercard from the socket using the ejector apparatusof the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of theejector apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a partial plan view illustrating the ejector of FIG. 9installed in one end of the socket housing;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the fixed postlocated at an opposite end of the socket from the ejector;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the fixed post embodiment of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along lines 13--13 of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a socket 10 of thepresent invention. Socket 10 includes a housing 12 formed to include anelongated slot 14 therein for receiving a daughtercard 16. Socket 10includes a plurality of contacts 18 for engaging conductive surfaces ondaughtercard 16 when daughtercard 16 is inserted into socket 10. Socket10 includes a first end 20 and an opposite second end 22 spaced apartfrom first end 20. First and second ends 20 and 22 have an identicalconfiguration including a first opening 24 and a second opening 26. Anejector 28 is pivotably coupled to first end 20 of socket 10. A fixedretention post 30 is coupled to second end 22 of socket 10.

FIG. 2 illustrates ejector 28 which is configured to retain and to ejectdaughtercard 16 from socket 10. Ejector 28 includes a body portion 32and a head 34 formed integrally with body portion 32 to facilitatepivotal movement of ejector 28. Head 34 provides a "finger shelf" onwhich to push when actuating ejector 28. A pair of axles 35 are formedon opposite sides on body portion 32. Axles 35 define a pivot axis 36which is perpendicular to elongated slot 14 formed along a longitudinalaxis of socket 10. Body 32 is formed to include a slot 42 therein forreceiving an end edge portion of daughtercard 16 as daughtercard 16 isinserted into socket 10. A bottom surface 44 of ejector 28 is configuredto engage a bottom surface 92 of daughtercard 16 as daughtercard 16 isinserted into socket 10. A cross member 45 is formed across slot 42 toprovide a polarization member as discussed below.

Body portion 32 of ejector 28 also includes a pair of flexible springarms 48 and 50 that project away from body portion 32. Arms 48 and 50are each formed to include tapered heads 52 and 54, respectively, whichengage opposite sides of daughtercard 16 to retain daughtercard 16 insocket 10. Side portions of ramp-shaped edge surfaces 56 and 58 of heads52 and 54 force arms 48 and 50 apart or open during insertion ofdaughtercard 16 into socket 10.

The tapered or ramped surfaces 56, 58, 80, and 82 of heads 52, 54, 76,and 78, respectively, provide a "lead in" geometry and stressdistribution during displacement. The three tapered sides (top and twoopposite sides) of ramp surfaces 56, 58, 80, and 82 are provided toretain daughtercard 16 in socket 10 without increasing the insertionforce of daughtercard 16.

A triangular-shaped wedge 60 is formed on each side of body 32 to helpsecure ejector 10 within socket 10. As illustrated in FIG. 1, wedges 60on opposite sides of body portion 32 engage sidewalls 26 of housing 12.Ejector 10 is inserted from the top of socket 10 into openings 24 and 26until axles 35 snap into the preformed openings 24 and 26 of housing 12.

FIG. 3 illustrates insert post 30 for forming the rigid, fixed post 30at second end 22 of socket 10. Post 30 includes a body portion 62 and apair of axles 64 formed on opposite sides of body portion 62. Theconfiguration of body portion 62 and axles 64 are similar to theconfiguration of body portion 32 and axles 35 of ejector 28. Therefore,post 30 can be inserted into either the first or second ends 20 or 22 ofsocket 10. Post 30 does not include a head portion such as head 34 ofejector 28. Post 30 does not move relative to socket 10. In other words,post 30 is in a fixed position relative to housing 12.

Post 30 provides retention means at the opposite end of housing 12 fromejector 28. Post 30 also provides a guide for insertion of daughtercard16 into socket 10. Post 30 is formed to include a slot 66 for receivingan end edge portion of daughtercard 16 therein as daughtercard 16 isinserted into socket 10. An end edge 93 of daughtercard 16 is alignedwith wall 67 of post 30 during insertion of daughtercard 16 into socket10 to align the plurality of contact surfaces of daughtercard 16 withthe plurality of terminals 18 of socket 10.

Retention post 30 is shown without a polarization cross member 45. It isunderstood that insert 30 may be formed to include a polarization crossmember such as cross member 45 illustrated in FIG. 2. In that instance,ejector 28 at the opposite end of socket 10 would not include a crossmember 45. Only one polarization cross member 45 is provided. A bottomsurface 68 of post 30 engages a bottom surface of daughtercard 16 whendaughtercard 16 is fully inserted into socket 10.

Body portion 62 of post 30 is formed to include a pair of flexible arms72 and 74 that project away from body portion 62. Arms 72 and 74 areeach formed to include tapered heads 76 and 78, respectively, whichengage opposite sides of daughtercard 16 to retain daughtercard 16 insocket 10. Ramp-shaped edge surfaces 80 and 82 of heads 76 and 78,respectively, force arms 72 and 74 apart during insertion or extractionof daughtercard 16 from socket 10. A triangular-shaped wedge 84 isformed on each side of body 62 to help secure retention post 30 withinsocket 10.

The present invention provides flexibility for inserting ejector 28 andretention post 30 into socket 10. Since socket 10 is symmetrical,ejector 28 and retention post 30 can be selectively inserted into eitherfirst end 20 or second end 22 of socket 10. Therefore, although FIG. 1illustrates the invention with ejector 28 coupled to first end 20 ofsocket 10 and retention post 30 coupled to second end 22 of socket 10,it is understood that the locations of ejector 28 and retention post 30could be reversed. The provision of fixed retention post 30 oppositefrom ejector 28 provides numerous advantages during insertion ofdaughtercard 16 into socket 10 or during removal of daughtercard 16 fromsocket 10 as discussed below. One advantageous feature of socket 10which includes post 30 and ejector 28 is that socket 10 requires lessboard space on the mother board.

FIG. 4 illustrates the configuration of terminals 18 within socket 10and further illustrates the configuration of ejector 28. Terminals 18include contact surfaces 86 which extend into slot 14 to engageconductive surfaces on opposite sides of daughtercard 16 whendaughtercard 16 is inserted into slot 14. Terminals 18 also includecontact tails 87 for electrically coupling terminals 18 to the motherboard (not shown). The configuration of terminals 18 is discussed indetail in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/759,409, ownedby the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein byreference. It is understood, however, that various other terminalconfigurations may be used in accordance with the present invention. Inother words, the present invention is not limited by the specificconfiguration of terminals 18.

Insertion of daughtercard 16 into the socket 10 is illustrated in FIG.5. Daughtercard 16 is formed to include apertures 88 therein. An endedge 93 of daughtercard 16 is first aligned with socket 10 using thefixed retention post 30 as a guide. Using post 30 as an alignment guidefor inserting daughtercard 16 advantageously aligns conductive surfaceson daughtercard 16 with terminals 18 of socket 10. This is an advantageover the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,800 are discussedabove. In the device disclosed in the Sasao '800 patent, the circuitboard may become misaligned with the socket due to the end play causedby having ejection levers with the socket at both ends of the socket.The present invention advantageously reduces the likelihood ofmisalignment between daughtercard 16 and socket 10 by providing fixedretention post insert 30 which is used as an insertion alignment guide.

As daughtercard 16 is inserted into socket 10 in the direction of arrow90 of FIG. 5, bottom surface 92 of daughtercard 16 engages bottomsurface 44 of ejector 28 and causes rotation of ejector 28 about pivotaxis 36 in the direction of arrow 94. The ramped surfaces 56 and 58 onheads 52 and 54, respectively, cause arms 48 and 50 to move apartautomatically as they contact a side edge 96 of daughtercard 16. Thereis no need to exert an external force on ejector 28 to cause ejector 28to pivot to the retention position illustrated in FIG. 6. Ramped heads56 and 58 enter aperture 88 from opposite sides of daughtercard 16 tostabilize and retain daughtercard 16 within socket 10. Heads 76 and 78of arms 72 and 74, respectively, formed integrally with fixed retentionpost 30 also enter an aperture 88 of daughtercard 16.

Daughtercard 16 is illustrated in the fully inserted position in FIG. 6.Heads 52 and 54 of ejector 28 and heads 76 and 78 of post 30 aredesigned to increase retention of daughtercard 16 within socket 10during movement, vibration or shock of socket 10 which can occur underrigid mechanical conditions, during movement, or during operation of amotor or fan adjacent socket 10. Heads 52, 54, 76 and 78 apply both ahorizontal retention force and a vertical retention force againstdaughtercard 16. FIG. 7 illustrates engagement of heads 52 and 54 ofejector 28 with daughtercard 16. It is understood that the engagement ofheads 76 and 78 of post 30 is identical to the description of heads 52and 54. Therefore, only a description of heads 52 and 54 will beprovided.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, ramped surface 56 of head 52 engages asidewall defining aperture 88 in daughtercard 16 and spring arm 48applies a force normal to daughtercard 16 in the direction of arrow 95.In addition, bottom surface 98 of head 52 provides a downwardly-directedvertical retention force to daughtercard 16 as illustrated by arrow 97to hold daughtercard 16 in socket 10. Ramped surface 58 of head 54engages an opposite side of daughtercard 16 so that spring arm 50applies a normal force against daughtercard 16 in the direction of arrow99. In addition, bottom surface 98 of head 54 enters aperture 88 toprovide a downwardly-directed vertical retention force to daughtercard16 in the direction of arrow 97.

Heads 52 and 54 of ejector 28 and heads 76 and 78 of post 30 provide aretention force on daughtercard 16 without the use of a latch which theuser must manually displace in order to remove daughtercard 16 fromsocket 10. A computer in which socket 10 is installed can be subjectedto an increased amount of shock and vibration due to movement of thecomputer or due to motor or fan vibration without dislocatingdaughtercard 16 from socket 10. Therefore, the configuration of socket10 reduces the likelihood of intermittent or failed signal paths fromdaughtercard 16 to the mother board while facilitating removal ofdaughtercard 16 from socket 10. Ramped surfaces 56 and 58 of heads 52and 54 are configured to allow for locational and size tolerances ofaperture 88 formed in daughtercard 16.

When it is desired to remove daughtercard 16 from socket 10, ejector 28is rotated about pivot axis 36 in the direction of arrow 102 of FIG. 8.This movement of ejector 28 forces the end of daughtercard 16 adjacentejector 28 to move in the direction of arrow 104 out of socket 10. Asillustrated in FIG. 8, an opposite end of daughtercard 16 adjacent post30 remains in elongated slot 14 of socket 10 during movement of ejector10 in the direction of arrow 102. Therefore, daughtercard pivots aboutbottom surface 92 of end edge 93 adjacent post 30 during ejection.

Side portions of ramped surfaces 56 and 58 of heads 52 and 54,respectively, engage a side wall defining aperture 88 to force springarms 48 and 50 outwardly to disengage heads 52 and 54 of ejector 28 fromaperture 88 automatically upon movement of ejector 28 in the directionof arrow 102. After bottom surface 44 of ejector 28 pushes the end ofdaughtercard 16 adjacent ejector 28 out of elongated slot 14 in thedirection of arrow 104, an operator can grab the raised corner ofdaughtercard 16 and "peel" daughtercard 16 the rest of the way outsocket 10 by continuing to rotate daughtercard 16 in the direction ofarrow 104 using fixed retention post insert 30 to provide leverage.Ejector 28 of the present invention provide a mechanical advantageduring ejection of daughtercard 16 and advantageously does not stresssocket 10 or the solder joints coupling socket 10 to the mother board.

FIGS. 5, 6, and 8 illustrate a polarization notch 106 formed indaughtercard 16 for use with polarization cross member 45 of ejector 28to polarize daughtercard 16 in socket 10. It is understood that if across member is used on post 30 instead of ejector 28 that thepolarization of daughtercard 16 would be reversed.

Another embodiment of the ejector of the present invention isillustrated in FIG. 9. Those elements referenced with numbers identicalto FIGS. 1-8 perform the same or similar function as discussed above. Inaddition to the elements discussed above, ejector 134 is formed toinclude angled crimp surfaces 136 and 138 on spring arms 48 and 50,respectively, in front of daughtercard receiving notch 137. Crimpsurfaces 136 and 138 are spaced apart further at a first end near heads52 and 54 than at a second end near head 34 to provide convergent ortapered lead-in surfaces. Crimp surfaces 136 and 138 are configured toengage opposite corners of end edge 96 of daughtercard 16 as bestillustrated in FIG. 10. In other words, crimp surfaces 136 and 138crimp, pinch against, or engage end edge 96 of daughtercard 16 to helpstabilize daughtercard 16 within socket 10. Providing convergent crimpsurfaces 136 and 138, in which the distance between surfaces 136 and 138decreases as surfaces 136 and 138 get closer to head 34, allows ejector134 to accommodate daughtercards having varying thicknesses and lengths.

Ejector 134 is also formed to include a raised surface 140 extendingtoward head 34 from a locking wedge 142 on each side of body 32. Asillustrated in FIG. 10, socket 10 is formed to include locking tabs 144and 145 which are configured to engage raised surfaces 140 of ejector134 so that each tab 144 and 145 applies an inwardly directed force inthe direction of arrows 146 and 147, respectively, to stabilize ejector134 within housing 12. Therefore, the opposing, inwardly directed forcesapplied to raised surfaces 140 on opposite sides of body 32 of ejector134 in the directions of arrows 146 and 147 by locking tabs 144 and 145,respectively, centralize and stabilize ejector 134 inside housing 12.This reduces or prohibits side-to-side motion of ejector 134 duringshock or vibration of housing 12.

Locking tabs 144 and 145 move outwardly in the directions of 148 and149, respectively, as ejector 134 is pivoted within housing 12 in thedirection of arrow 94 of FIG. 5 from the outwardly pivoted ejectionposition FIG. 5 to the upright retention position of FIG. 6. Lockingtabs 144 and 145 also move outwardly upon engagement of wedges 142 asejector moves in the direction of arrow 102 in FIG. 8 from the uprightretention position to the outwardly pivoted ejection position. Wedges142 have a triangular shape to provide ramps for moving the tabs 144 and145 outwardly during movement of ejector in either direction. Lockingtabs 144 and 145 also apply a force to side edges 150 of wedges 142.Therefore, locking tabs 144 and 145 apply force in the direction ofarrow 152 to ejector 134 when ejector 134 is in the upright retentionposition illustrated in FIG. 10 to hold crimp surfaces 136 and 138against end edge 96 of daughtercard 16, thereby stabilizing daughtercard16 within socket 10.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of lead-inramp surfaces 154 and 156 formed on ejector 134. Lead-in ramp surfaces154 and 156 are located above crimp surfaces 136 and 138, respectively,reduce the likelihood of stubbing a bottom surface 92 of daughtercard 16against a top edge 158 of ejector 134 during insertion of daughtercard16 into socket 10.

Still another feature of the ejector illustrated in FIG. 9 is theprovision of lead-in surfaces 160 and 162 formed on heads 52 and 54,respectively. Lead-in surfaces 160 and 162 are cut in heads 52 and 54 tofacilitate movement of spring arms 48 and 50 away from each other asejector 134 rotates in the direction of arrow 94 of FIG. 5 duringinsertion of daughtercard 16. In other words, lead-in ramp surfaces 160and 162 initially engage side edge 96 of daughtercard 16 and causespring arrows 48 and 50 to move away from each other and move overdaughtercard 16. Ramp surfaces 160 and 162 therefore facilitate movementof spring arms 48 and 50 away from each other as ejector 134 rotates tothe upright retention position illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIGS. 11-13 illustrate another embodiment of a fixed post 170 located atan opposite end of socket 10 or 110 from ejector 28 or 134. Asillustrated in FIG. 11, fixed post 170 is formed integrally with housing112 of socket 110. Fixed post 170 includes an end tower 172 formed toinclude an elongated slot 174 therein for receiving end edge 93 ofdaughtercard 16. Therefore, slot 174 provides means for aligningdaughtercard 16 relative to socket 110. Fixed post 170 is also formed toinclude a pair of resilient beams 176 and 178 located on opposite sidesof the elongated slot 114 of housing 112. Resilient stabilizing beams176 and 178 are formed to include head portions 180 and 182,respectively, for engaging opposite sides of daughtercard 16 uponinsertion of daughtercard 16 into socket 110 to stabilize an end ofdaughtercard adjacent fixed post 170 within socket 110. FIGS. 12 and 13further illustrate the details of fixed post 170.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to acertain preferred embodiment, variations and modifications exist withinthe scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An ejector for ejecting a daughtercard from anelongated slot formed in an electrical connector socket housing, theejector comprising a body including means for ejecting an end of thedaughtercard adjacent the ejector out of the elongated slot uponmovement of the ejector relative to the socket housing, the body alsobeing formed to include first and second crimp surfaces for engaging anend edge of the daughtercard when the daughtercard is completelyinserted into the socket to stabilize the daughtercard in the socket. 2.The ejector of claim 1, further comprising means for biasing the ejectorbody in a direction toward the daughtercard to hold the first and secondcrimp surfaces against the daughtercard.
 3. The ejector of claim 2,wherein the biasing means includes first and second wedges formed onopposite side surfaces of the ejector body and first and second lockingtabs formed on the socket housing for engaging the first and secondwedges, respectively, to apply a biasing force to the ejector body in adirection toward the daughtercard.
 4. The ejector of claim 3, whereinthe first and second locking tabs also engage the opposite side surfacesof the ejector body to apply opposing, inwardly directed forces to theejector body, thereby centralizing and stabilizing the ejector bodywithin the socket housing.
 5. The ejector of claim 1, wherein theejector body includes first and second opposite side surfaces, andfurther comprising means for applying inwardly directed forces to thefirst and second opposite side surfaces to centralize and stabilize theejector body within the socket housing.
 6. The ejector of claim 5,wherein the means for applying inwardly directed forces includes firstand second locking tabs formed on the socket housing, the first andsecond locking tabs being configured to engage the first and secondopposite side surfaces of the ejector body, respectively.
 7. The ejectorof claim 6, further comprising first and second raised surfaces formedon the opposite side surfaces of the body of the ejector and configuredso that the first and second locking tabs engage the first and secondraised surfaces, respectively.
 8. The ejector of claim 1, furthercomprising first and second spring arms for engaging opposite sides ofthe daughtercard to retain the daughtercard in the socket upon insertionof the daughtercard into the socket.
 9. The ejector of claim 8, whereinthe first and second spring arms of the ejector each include a headportion configured to engage opposite sides of the daughtercard toretain the daughtercard in the socket, the head portions each includinga ramped surface to force the first and second spring arms of theejector apart automatically during insertion of the daughtercard intosocket.
 10. The ejector of claim 8, wherein the head portions areconfigured to enter an aperture formed in the daughtercard adjacent theejector from opposite sides of the daughtercard, the head portionsincluding an edge surface configured to engage the daughtercard andapply a force normal to the daughtercard and a bottom surface forapplying a force against the daughtercard downwardly into said elongatedslot of the socket housing.
 11. The ejector of claim 1, furthercomprising means for polarizing the daughtercard in the socket.
 12. Theejector of claim 1, further comprising first and second lead in rampsurfaces formed on the ejector body above the first and second crimpsurfaces, respectively, to reduce the likelihood of stubbing a bottomsurface of the daughtercard against the ejector body during insertion ofthe daughtercard into the socket housing.
 13. The ejector of claim 1,wherein the first and second crimp surfaces are convergent toaccommodate daughtercards having various lengths and thicknesses.
 14. Anelectrical connector for receiving a daughtercard having a plurality ofconductive surfaces formed thereon, the connector comprising:a sockethousing formed to include an elongated slot for receiving thedaughtercard therein and including a plurality of electrical terminalsfor engaging the plurality of conductive surfaces formed thedaughtercard for electrically coupling the daughtercard to the socket;an ejector coupled to an end of the socket housing, the ejectorincluding means for ejecting an end portion of the daughtercard adjacentthe ejector out of the elongated slot upon movement of the ejectorrelative to the socket housing, and first and second crimp surfaces forengaging first and second corners of an end edge of the daughtercard,respectively; and means for biasing the ejector toward the daughtercardto hold the first and second crimp surfaces against the daughtercard tostabilize the daughtercard in the socket.
 15. The connector of claim 14,wherein the biasing means includes first and second wedges formed onopposite side surfaces of the ejector and first and second locking tabsformed on the socket housing for engaging the first and second wedges,respectively, to apply a biasing force to the ejector body in adirection toward the daughtercard.
 16. The connector of claim 15,wherein the first and second locking tabs also engage the opposite sidesurfaces of the ejector to apply opposing, inwardly directed forces tothe ejector body, thereby centralizing and stabilizing the ejector bodywithin the socket housing.
 17. The connector of claim 14, wherein theejector includes first and second opposite side surfaces, and furthercomprising means for applying inwardly directed forces to the first andsecond opposite side surfaces to centralize and stabilize the ejectorwithin the socket.
 18. The connector of claim 17, wherein the means forapplying inwardly directed forces includes first and second locking tabsformed on the socket, the first and second locking tabs being configuredto engage the first and second opposite side surfaces of the ejector,respectively.
 19. The connector of claim 18, further comprising firstand second raised surfaces formed on the opposite side surfaces of theejector and configured so that the first and second locking tabs engagethe first and second raised surfaces, respectively.
 20. The connector ofclaim 14, wherein the ejector includes means for engaging opposite sidesof the daughtercard upon insertion of the daughtercard into the socketto retain the daughtercard within the socket.
 21. The connector of claim20, wherein means for engaging opposite sides of the daughtercardincludes first and second spring arms for engaging opposite sides of thedaughtercard to retain the daughtercard in the socket upon insertion ofthe daughtercard into the socket.
 22. The connector of claim 21, whereinthe first and second spring arms of the ejector each include a headportion configured to engage opposite sides of the daughtercard toretain the daughtercard in the socket, the head portions each includinga ramped surface to force the first and second spring arms of theejector apart automatically during insertion of the daughtercard intosocket.
 23. The connector of claim 14, further comprising first andsecond lead in ramp surfaces formed on the ejector above the first andsecond crimp surfaces, respectively, to reduce the likelihood ofstubbing a bottom surface of the daughtercard against the ejector duringinsertion of the daughtercard into the socket.
 24. The connector ofclaim 14, wherein the first and second crimp surfaces are convergent toaccommodate daughtercards having various lengths and thicknesses.
 25. Anelectrical connector for receiving a daughtercard having a plurality ofconductive surfaces formed thereon, the connector comprising:a sockethaving a first end and a second end, the socket being formed to includean elongated slot extending between the first and second ends forreceiving the daughtercard therein and including a plurality ofelectrical terminals for engaging the plurality of conductive surfacesformed the daughtercard for electrically coupling the daughtercard tothe socket; an ejector coupled to the first end of the socket, theejector including means for ejecting an end portion of the daughtercardadjacent the ejector out of the elongated slot upon movement of theejector relative to the socket housing, and first and second crimpsurfaces for engaging an end edge of the daughtercard when thedaughtercard is completely inserted into the socket to stabilize thedaughtercard in the socket; and a post coupled to the second end of thesocket in a fixed position relative to the socket to guide insertion ofthe daughtercard into the socket so that the plurality of conductivesurfaces formed the daughtercard are aligned with the plurality ofelectrical terminals of the socket.
 26. The connector of claim 25,wherein the ejector includes first and second spring arms for engagingopposite sides of the daughtercard to retain the daughtercard in thesocket upon insertion of the daughtercard into the socket.
 27. Theconnector of claim 26, further comprising means for pivotably couplingthe ejector to the first end of the socket so that the ejector ismovable from an upright retention position in which the spring arms ofthe ejector engage opposite sides of the daughtercard to retain thedaughtercard in the socket to an outwardly pivoted ejection position toforce the end portion of the daughtercard adjacent the ejector out ofthe elongated slot.
 28. The connector of claim 27, wherein the springarms of the ejector are formed to include means for permitting thedaughtercard to be inserted into the socket with the ejector in eitherits upright retention position or its outwardly pivoted ejectionposition.
 29. The connector of claim 25, wherein the post is formed toinclude a pair of spring arms projecting away from the post for engagingopposite sides of the daughtercard adjacent the second end of the socketto retain the daughtercard within the socket.
 30. The connector of claim29, wherein the spring arms of the post each include a head portionconfigured enter an aperture formed in the daughtercard adjacent thesecond end of the socket from opposite sides of the daughtercard toretain and stabilize the daughtercard in the socket.
 31. The connectorof claim 25, further comprising means for biasing the ejector body in adirection toward the daughtercard to hold the first and second crimpsurfaces against the daughtercard.
 32. The connector of claim 31,wherein the biasing means includes first and second wedges formed onopposite side surfaces of the ejector and first and second locking tabsformed on the socket for engaging the first and second wedges,respectively, to apply a biasing force to the ejector in a directiontoward the daughtercard.
 33. The connector of claim 32, wherein thefirst and second locking tabs also engage the opposite side surfaces ofthe ejector to apply opposing, inwardly directed forces to the ejector,thereby centralizing and stabilizing the ejector within the socket. 34.The connector of claim 25, wherein the ejector includes first and secondopposite side surfaces, and further comprising means for applyinginwardly directed forces to the first and second opposite side surfacesto centralize and stabilize the ejector within the socket.
 35. Theconnector of claim 34, wherein the means for applying inwardly directedforces includes first and second locking tabs formed on the socket, thefirst and second locking tabs being configured to engage the first andsecond opposite side surfaces of the ejector, respectively.
 36. Theconnector of claim 35, further comprising first and second raisedsurfaces formed on the opposite side surfaces of the ejector andconfigured so that the first and second locking tabs engage the firstand second raised surfaces, respectively.
 37. The connector of claim 25,wherein the ejector includes first and second lead in ramp surfacesformed above the first and second crimp surfaces, respectively, toreduce the likelihood of stubbing a bottom surface of the daughtercardagainst the ejector body during insertion of the daughtercard into thesocket.
 38. The connector of claim 25, wherein the first and secondcrimp surfaces are convergent to accommodate daughtercards havingvarious lengths and thicknesses.